Another aspect of the fuel efficiency initiative included a review of
maximum landing weight for the KC-135 Stratotanker.
Pilots should have a general understanding of how weight and CG limitations are determined and what they mean (i.e., the reasons for aft and forward CG limits, the reasons for a maximum takeoff weight, and the reasons for a
maximum landing weight.).
The
maximum landing weight is 4100 pounds, so on any gross-weight takeoff, about 30 gallons of fuel has to be burned off before landing.
If we didn't reduce weight, we would land just below
maximum landing weight. We already had extended our crew day past 12 hours, and I believed flying another three hours to burn gas was not smart.
Following procedures, they then dumped fuel to reduce the aircraftOs weight to the
maximum landing weight permitted before returning the aircraft to Entebbe, where as a precaution, emergency services had been put on alert.
And another limiting weight was introduced: a
maximum landing weight of 4342 pounds.
